friends fundraising for their teenagers' gap years

[madoldbiddy]

Received party invitation from neighbour and friend on behalf of her teenage son with details of his gap year plans - teaching for a month plus several months of travel. Invitation accompanied by reply slip making it clear a donation would be expected whether or not one went to the party. The amont was left open. The project seemed of dubious value to me even though it cost £3000. I felt that it would have been better to have put a definite price on the party tickets but I suppose they felt they could get a better return this way. Being hard-up I resent being asked to contribute to someone else's holidays and am tempted to just put it in the bin without answering. Has anyone else come across this?

what the hell does a teen need a gap from?
sitting school exams isnt most onerous thing that requires a break
this notion that only a costly spell abroad is enriching as opposed to bit of volunteering here

Scottishmummy, they need a gap so that they can learn about life and experience other cultures whilst kidding themselves that they are not just on an extended holiday. These things are essential. and a break from helicopter parenting

The fact that all these things can be achieved by getting a job, moving away from home and / or working in the inner cities in a health/social care type role is largely ignored.

hehe,gap years are wholly unnecessary bit of a a middle class to do
requiring a gap between school and uni- dear god
plenty experience can be gained in uk,without need for costly trips

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Gap years are a huge luxury. If you can't afford one then don't take one. This makes me hugely angry - why the hell expect other people to pay for your kid to go off on a GAP YAH?

And why can't said child work for half the year, save up and then finance their own trip?

Fuck. .

And another thing...

!8years old equals young adult surely? I would have been livid to have been thought of as a child at that age.

Actually I need a holiday. think I'll hold a party and tell everyone I need a donation so my family can experience authentic Spanish food.

boysrock - yeah, I fancy a month in the maldives so I'll also plan a party. Hang on, scratch that, I fancy jacking in my job and re training. Can I hold a party and get all my friends and family to pay for that too? FFS.

I wouldn't wipe my arse on that invitation op.

I had a great year out, paid work of 6 months in Italy running a livery yard, and 6 months in Swizterland riding showjumpers. I made a couple of thousand profit out of it...

If the son is travelling for a couple of months and "working" for one month, what is he doing on the rest of his gap year?

A colleague at work was asking for donations for her son to go on a GAP year. I couldn't believe it, especially as she pays for both children to go to private school. Pay for it yourself love!

I had to pull out of my GAP year experience as I didn't raise enough money. I had two jobs and never asked for money.

"
Gap years are a huge luxury"

no they aren't. lots of people do them very cheaply and completely self-funded - all you really need is time, and no other big financial commitments.

so, for me now - with mortgage & kids - v. impossible

for me then - with just student loans (which can be staved if off if you aren't earning) and plenty of free time to earn the dough- very easy.

so, some of youz are just bitching.

But of course, asking someone else to pay for it (other than perhaps, a begging bowl to the Bank of Mum and Dad) is very wrong. You are not a charity case, just because you don't have the readies right off the bat.

working abroad is different from paying a lot to be herded about like posh cattle having an elongated holiday.gap tears usually incurrs a cost and is bit of a status thang,its the sense of entitlement thing that irks

sitting your highers etc isnt so burdensome you need a hoiday to recover or find yourelf

gap year doesn't have to be organised by an outside body, SM, you can do flights only (or even train) and make your own schedule.

'herding' is not necessarily part of the thing at all. and i think most people don't think they 'need' them, i reckons is a more 'if i don't do this now, when will i..?'

an in my case i really enjoy being totally free to do what I want. gap year was great for that..got passport..got bank card...that's all you need...now which country do i want to wake up in tomorrow?

maybe once the kids have left home, i'll get to do it again....(realise be paying for their stuff still most likely)

agree.but the gap year being mainly discussed here is the kate and wills horahs in peru thing

yes of course one can arrange it independently

Why can't they live at home for a year and volunteer in the gap year and have a week in spain for the travelling bit if they want soem sun the volunteering would be home grown help and assist charities here in the UK that may well need extra hands

Incredible - I can only repeat what others have said so won't bother!!!

So whats happened?